Patents by Inventor Alan Donaldson

Alan Donaldson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11016718
    Abstract: Techniques associated with conforming local and remote media characteristics data to target media presentation profiles are described, including a media characteristic configuration module comprising an audio characteristic manager configured to modify an audio portion of media content data received from a source to conform the audio portion to a target audio characteristic indicated in a target configuration profile, and to modify an audio portion of other media content data received from another source to conform the audio portion to the target audio characteristic indicated in the target configuration profile, a communication facility configured to receive media content data from different sources using different data communication protocols, and a storage device configured to store target configuration profiles and data associated with media content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: JAWB ACQUISITION LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Alan Donaldson, Michael Edward Smith Luna
  • Publication number: 20200391134
    Abstract: A play system, comprising: one or more toys comprising one or more electrically conductive parts, the one or more conductive parts defining a spatial pattern, the one or more toys having a physical configuration that is modifiable by a user, the spatial pattern being dependent on the physical configuration of the one or more toys, the one or more toys including a first toy; a magnetic field generating device arranged to generate a magnetic field for inducing an eddy current in one or more of the electrically conductive parts; a sensor configured to detect the induced eddy current; and a data processor; wherein the first toy and at least one of the magnetic field generating device and the sensor are movable relative to each other; wherein the sensor is configured to detect the induced eddy current during relative movement between the first toy and at least one of the magnetic field generating device and the sensor, and wherein the data processor is configured to: receive sensor data from the sensor, the sensor
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: Erik HANSEN, Jesper SØDERBERG, Thomas Alan DONALDSON
  • Patent number: 10827292
    Abstract: Various embodiments relate generally to electrical and electronic hardware, computer software, wired and wireless network communications, and audio and speaker systems. More specifically, disclosed are an apparatus and a method for processing signals for optimizing audio, such as 3D audio, by adjusting the filtering for cross-talk cancellation based on listener position and/or orientation. In one embodiment, an apparatus is configured to include a plurality of transducers, a memory, and a processor configured to execute instructions to determine a physical characteristic of a listener relative to the origination of the multiple channels of audio, to cancel crosstalk in a spatial region coincident with the listener at a first location, to detect a change in the physical characteristic of the listener, and to adjust the cancellation of crosstalk responsive to detecting the change in the physical characteristic to establish another spatial region at a second location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: JAWB ACQUISITION LLC
    Inventors: James Hall, Thomas Alan Donaldson
  • Patent number: 10772561
    Abstract: Various embodiments relate generally to electrical and electronic hardware, computer software and systems, and wired and wireless network communications to provide an interface between an organism and other computing machine-based entities, and, more specifically, to sensors that facilitate determination of a state of neural activity with which to associate data representing, for example, an intent and/or a command; to implementations of sensors under control to, for example, modify sensing characteristics to interpolate response signals spatially or temporally, or both, to facilitate determination of a state of neural activity; to the formation or implementation of a data model that includes, for example, data arrangements representative of at least neuronal activity to facilitate determination of a state of neural activity; and to mobile human-machine interface to facilitate control based on neuronal activity of an organism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Inventor: Thomas Alan Donaldson
  • Patent number: 10341764
    Abstract: Techniques associated with structures for dynamically tuned audio in a media device are described, including receiving data associated with an acoustic output, determining a target frequency response associated with an audio device, the audio device implemented with a hybrid radiator formed using a smart fluid or artificial muscle material, determining a value associated with a property of the smart fluid or artificial muscle material, calculating, using a dynamic tuning application, a magnitude of an external stimulus associated with the value, and sending a control signal to a source, the control signal configured to cause the source to apply the external stimulus, an application of the external stimulus of the determined magnitude configured to change the property of the smart fluid or artificial muscle material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Inventors: Derek Barrentine, Michael Edward Smith Luna, Thomas Alan Donaldson
  • Patent number: 10225680
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate generally to electrical and electronic hardware, computer software, wired and wireless network communications, and wearable/mobile computing devices configured to facilitate production and/or reproduction of spatial audio and/or one or more audio spaces. More specifically, disclosed are systems, components and methods to acoustically determine displacements of audios sources (or portions thereof), such as a subset of speaking users, for providing audio spaces and spatial sound field reproduction, for example, for a remote listener. In one embodiment, a media device includes transducers to emit audible acoustic signals into a region including one or more audio sources, acoustic probe transducers configured to emit ultrasonic signals and acoustic sensors configured to sense received ultrasonic signals reflected from an audio source. A controller can determine a displacement of the audio source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Inventor: Thomas Alan Donaldson
  • Patent number: 10218853
    Abstract: A wireless conference call telephone system uses body-worn wired or wireless audio endpoints comprising microphones and, optionally, speakers. These audio-endpoints, which include headsets, pendants, and clip-on microphones to name a few, are used to capture the user's voice and the resulting data may be used to remove echo and environmental acoustic noise. Each audio-endpoint transmits its audio to the telephony gateway, where noise and echo suppression can take place if not already performed on the audio-endpoint, and where each audio-endpoint's output can be labeled, integrated with the output of other audio-endpoints, and transmitted over one or more telephony channels of a telephone network. The noise and echo suppression can also be done on the audio-endpoint. The labeling of each user's output can be used by the outside caller's phone to spatially locate each user in space, increasing intelligibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Inventors: Gregory C. Burnett, Michael Goertz, Nicolas Jean Petit, Zhinian Jing, Steven Foster Forestieri, Thomas Alan Donaldson
  • Patent number: 10218063
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present application relate generally to electronic hardware, computer software, wireless communications, network communications, wearable, hand held, and portable computing devices for facilitating communication of information and presentation of media. An electrically conductive substrate, such as a sheet of metal or metal alloy, for example, includes an active antenna formed by a slot or opening formed in the substrate, and also includes at least one separate passive slot or opening (e.g., a passive slit) formed in the substrate. The active antenna may be intentionally detuned from one or more target frequencies (e.g., 802.11, 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz) such that the active antenna is not optimized (e.g., is not tuned) for the one or more target frequencies. One portion of the active antenna may be electrically coupled with a ground potential. Another portion of the active antenna may be electrically coupled with a RF receiver, transmitter, or transceiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Inventors: Hawk Yin Pang, Rajiv Agarwal, Thomas Alan Donaldson
  • Patent number: 10219094
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate generally to electrical and electronic hardware, computer software, wired and wireless network communications, and wearable computing devices to facilitate production and/or reproduction of a spatial sound field and/or one or more audio spaces. More specifically, disclosed are systems, components and methods to determine acoustically positions of audios sources, such as vocal users, for providing audio spaces and spatial sound field reproduction for remote listeners. In one embodiment, a media device includes a housing, transducers disposed in the housing to emit audible acoustic signals into a region including one or more audio sources, acoustic probe transducers configured to emit ultrasonic signals and acoustic sensors configured to sense received ultrasonic signals reflected from an audio source. A controller can determine a position of the audio source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Inventor: Thomas Alan Donaldson
  • Patent number: 10211889
    Abstract: A re-configurable RF architecture includes both a 2×2 MIMO mode and a 1×2 MIMO mode The 2×2 MIMO mode includes a first RF chain coupled with a first dual band antenna and configured to both transmit (Tx) and receive (Rx) using two different RF protocols. The 2×2 MIMO mode also includes a second RF chain coupled with a second dual band antenna and configured to both Tx and Rx using a single RF protocol. The first RF chain may be coupled with a third antenna configured for near field proximity sensing. The RF architecture is reversibly switchable from the 2×2 MIMO mode to the 1×2 MIMO mode when near field proximity detection is required. In the 1×2 MIMO mode the Tx/Rx capabilities of the second chain using the second dual band antenna are retained and the first chain is configured for Rx only capability using the third antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Inventors: Hawk Yin Pang, Rajiv Agarwal, Thomas Alan Donaldson
  • Patent number: 10212534
    Abstract: Techniques associated with intelligent device connection for wireless media ecosystem are described, including detecting, using an antenna implemented in a connection awareness device, a radio signal emitted by a wireless device, generating proximity data indicating a proximity of the wireless device to the antenna, providing the proximity data to an intelligent communication facility coupled to the antenna, determining the proximity passes within a threshold proximity, determining the wireless device is compatible with an output device coupled to the connection awareness device, sending to the wireless device data comprising a query associated with an operation, receiving a response indicating the wireless device is performing the operation, sending a first control signal to the output device, synchronizing a performance of the operation by the output device with another performance of the operation by the wireless device, and sending a second control signal to the wireless device to stop performing the oper
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Inventors: Michael Edward Smith Luna, Thomas Alan Donaldson
  • Publication number: 20170281086
    Abstract: Various embodiments relate generally to electrical and electronic hardware, computer software and systems, and wired and wireless network communications to provide an interface between an organism and other computing machine-based entities, and, more specifically, to sensors that facilitate determination of a state of neural activity with which to associate data representing, for example, an intent and/or a command; to implementations of sensors under control to, for example, modify sensing characteristics to interpolate response signals spatially or temporally, or both, to facilitate determination of a state of neural activity; to the formation or implementation of a data model that includes, for example, data arrangements representative of at least neuronal activity to facilitate determination of a state of neural activity; and to mobile human-machine interface to facilitate control based on neuronal activity of an organism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventor: Thomas Alan Donaldson
  • Patent number: 9696801
    Abstract: Techniques for providing an eye-controlled user interface for an electronic device are described. In some examples, a process includes establishing a control link between a device and a visual control circuit, the visual control circuit having an image sensor and a visual feature disposed substantially proximate to the image sensor at a control point, receiving an image by the image sensor, evaluating the image to determine whether an eye is oriented substantially toward the control point, determining whether a control action is intended, and, if the control action is intended, deriving the control action, and using the control link to perform the control action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Inventor: Thomas Alan Donaldson
  • Publication number: 20160294974
    Abstract: Techniques associated with a smart media ecosystem using local data and remote social graph data are described, including identifying an account associated with a user based on a detection of a presence of a compatible device, the compatible device being associated with the account in a profile, receiving an input indicating a request for media content, retrieving remote social graph data from a remote database, cross-referencing the remote social graph with profile data being stored locally, the profile data associated with media preferences, updating the profile data with a learned media preference generated by a learning module, selecting targeted media content based on the profile data, and sending a control signal to a media device, the control signal configured to cause the media device to output the targeted media content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Applicant: AliphCom
    Inventors: Michael Edward Smith Luna, Thomas Alan Donaldson, Hawk Pang
  • Publication number: 20160294730
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present application relate generally to electrical and electronic hardware, computer software, wired and wireless network communications, Bluetooth systems, RF systems, self-powered wireless devices, and consumer electronic (CE) devices. More specifically the present application relates to provision of networked based services to Bluetooth-enabled devices. The present application describes a very low-cost, multi-purpose, rapidly re-purposable Bluetooth node that may sit at the edge of a network and may be configured to allow a network system to dynamically add and remove different Bluetooth capabilities and allow for a much higher level of management of Bluetooth devices that are interacting with the network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Applicant: AliphCom
    Inventor: Thomas Alan Donaldson
  • Publication number: 20160278703
    Abstract: Techniques associated with a wearable device structure with enhanced motion detection by a motion sensor are described, including a band configured to be worn, a nodule coupled to the band, the nodule including a structure configured to enhance detection of movement of an adjacent skin surface, the structure having an articulator configured to rotate in a plurality of planes, and a sensor coupled to the structure and configured to detect rotational motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Applicant: AliphCom
    Inventor: Thomas Alan Donaldson
  • Publication number: 20160286304
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus, devices, and methods for converting electrical signals into sound using an acoustic transducer. The inventive acoustic transducer utilizes the motion of an airfoil shaped element to generate a sound wave, with the airfoil element being driven in response to an electrical signal input to a suitable driving element. In some embodiments, the airfoil element or elements act to mechanically couple the motion of an armature attached to the driver to the surrounding air, producing sound waves in a more efficient manner than typical acoustic transducer devices. Embodiments of the invention may be used in the design of loudspeakers, earpieces, headphones, and other devices for which a high efficiency transducer is desired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Applicant: AiphCom
    Inventor: Thomas Alan Donaldson
  • Publication number: 20160234630
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present application relate generally to wireless electronics, wireless portable electronics, wireless media presentation devices, audio/video systems, and more specifically to passive or active RF proximity detection of wireless client devices in an environment that may or may not include wireless access points. A wireless client device may be forced, triggered, or configured to broadcast a wireless scan (e.g., an active WiFi scan) that includes data (e.g., packets) that may be discovered by a wireless media device (e.g., received by RF circuitry in the media device) and information from the wireless scan may be used by the wireless media device to detect presence of the wireless client device and/or its user, to establish a wireless data communications link with the wireless client device, to determine proximity of the wireless client device to the wireless media device, and for near field communication (NFC) with the wireless client device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Applicant: AliphCom
    Inventors: HAWK YIN PANG, Thomas Alan Donaldson
  • Publication number: 20160220122
    Abstract: One or more wearable devices may measure real-time blood pressure in a body using signals from multiple sensors including but not limited to a multi-axis accelerometer, a bioimpedance (BI) sensor, a capacitive touch sensor, an electrocardiography sensor (ECG), a ballistocardiograph sensor (BCG), a photoplethysmogram (PPG), a pulse oximetery sensor, and a phonocardiograph sensor (PCG), for example. Accelerometry data (e.g., from a multi-axis accelerometer or BCG sensor) may be used to derive effects of acceleration (e.g., gravity) on changes in blood pressure (e.g., due to changes in blood volume as measured using BI signals). The accelerometry data may be used to determine a baseline value for BI voltage signals that are indicative of diastolic and systolic blood pressure (e.g., in mmHg). Combinations of methods, such as BCG, ECG, PPG, blood pressure Pulse Wave and others may be used to determine pulse transit time (PTT), pulse arrival time (PAT), and pre-ejection period (PET).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Applicant: AliphCom
    Inventors: Michael Edward Luna, Thomas Alan Donaldson, John M. Stivoric, Sidney Primas
  • Patent number: 9306872
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present application relate generally to electrical and electronic hardware, computer software, wired and wireless network communications, Bluetooth systems, RF systems, self-powered wireless devices, and consumer electronic (CE) devices. More specifically the present application relates to provision of networked based services to Bluetooth-enabled devices. The present application describes a very low-cost, multi-purpose, rapidly re-purposable Bluetooth node that may sit at the edge of a network and may be configured to allow a network system to dynamically add and remove different Bluetooth capabilities and allow for a much higher level of management of Bluetooth devices that are interacting with the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: AliphCom
    Inventor: Thomas Alan Donaldson